MARK
FARNER’S MUSICAL LEGACY CELEBRATED AS GRAND FUNK RAILROAD’S
FIRST FOUR ALBUMS KICK OFF YEAR-LONG REISSUE CAMPAIGN OF LEGENDARY
ARENA ROCKERS’ CLASSIC CATALOG
LOS ANGLES
— How big were Mark Farner and Grand Funk Railroad? The
band sold 10 million albums in 1970 alone (over 30 million worldwide
over their career). They sold-out Shea Stadium faster than the
Beatles! Big-time arena rockers who have walked onto stages
after them, from Foreigner to Bon Jovi, could only hope to match
the success of one of the most popular bands of the ‘70s.
Now the reissue of the entire Grand Funk Railroad catalog on
Capitol Records kicks off with the August 13, 2002, release
of the band’s first four albums, each digitally remastered,
three of which feature previously unreleased bonus tracks and
all four records include brand new liner notes.
On Time
in 1969 was
the album debut for GFR--formed in Flint, MI, by guitarist Mark
Farner, drummer Don Brewer and bassist Mel Schacher and named
after Michigan’s Grand Trunk Western Railroad. Mixing radio-friendly
melodies and vocal harmonies with heavy rock and funky jams,
the blues-based power trio went Top 30 (#27) and gold with its
premiere outing. The bonus tracks are the original versions
of "Heartbreaker" and "High On A Horse."
Grand
Funk, also known as The Red Album, was issued just
before the end of 1969. Outcharting its predecessor, the album
hit #11 and is now certified platinum. The bonus tracks are
the demo of "Nothing Is The Same," a 2002 remix of
"Mr. Limousine Driver" and a live rendition of "Into
The Sun" from a 1970 concert in Hershey, PA.
Closer
To Home in 1970 proved to be the band’s major breakthrough.
The epic "I’m Your Captain" became its first
Top 40 single (#22) and the album (now double platinum) became
its first of eight Top 10s (#6). The bonus tracks are an alternate
mix of "Mean Mistreater" and live takes from a 1970
Orlando, Fl, concert of "In Need," "Heartbreaker"
and the show-stopping "Mean Mistreater."
Live
Album staked GFR’s claim as the live performing act
of its day. Recorded in summer 1970 and released later that
year, Live Album peaked at #5 and is currently double
platinum. The reissued Live Album contains no bonus tracks
because the original already boasted enough material to fill
a CD, including three songs presented in 12-minute versions.
However, the vinyl album moved songs around to accommodate the
side break and the reissue re-sequences the album to duplicate
the original concert.
The GFR
retrospective campaign begins in July 2002 with Grand Funk
Railroad Live – The 1971 Tour, a collection of previously
unreleased live music from Shea Stadium, Detroit & Chicago.
The GFR reissues will continue with the November 2002 release
of E Pluribus Funk, Phoenix, Survival and We’re
An American Band and the February 2003 release of All
The Girls In The World Beware!!!,
Born To Die, Caught In The Act and Shinin’ On.
Tracklistings:
ON
TIME
ON
TIME
Street Date:
August 13, 2002 Label: Capitol
Genre:
Rock Format: CD
UPC
Code: 72435-39502-2-4
GRAND
FUNK (The Red Album)
Street Date:
August 13, 2002 Label: Capitol
Genre:
Rock Format: CD
UPC
Code: 72435-39831-2-3
CLOSER
TO HOME
Street Date:
August 13, 2002 Label: Capitol
Genre:
Rock Format: CD
UPC
Code: 72435-39380-2-4
LIVE
ALBUM
Street Date:
August 13, 2002 Label: Capitol
Genre:
Rock Format: CD
UPC
Code: 72435-39326-2-6
